Ceropegia papillata N.E.Br.

Apocynaceae (part 2), David Goyder, Timothy Harris, Siro Masinde, Ulrich Meve, Johan Venter. Flora of Tropical East Africa, 2012

Morphology General Habit

Herbaceous leafy climber to 1(–3) m high.

Morphology General Exudate

Latex clear.

Morphology Roots

Root system a small depressed subglobose tuber ± 30 × 15 mm, with fibrous roots from sides and base.

Morphology Stem

Stem usually wiry, sparsely branched, pubescent open simultaneously, without detectable scent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Peduncles

Peduncle 0–3 mm long.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences Bracts

Bracts linearsubulate, 4–8 mm long, pubescent.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicels 8–12 mm

Morphology Leaves

Leaves simple, occasionally ± trilobed to hastate; petiole 12–28(–50) mm long; lamina ovate, (15–)25–75(–120) × (8–)13–30(–70) mm, base cordate, apex obtusely pointed or shortly acuminate; basal lobes rounded, in young plants separated by a narrow sinus, in older plants occasionally overlapping and enclosing a small rhomboid sinus; thinly to densely pubescent on both surfaces, margin ciliate

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescence sessile or subsessile, stems with many nodes carrying dense 10–20-flowered pseudoumbels, usually many flowers

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals linear-subulate, 3–5 × 0.5 mm, acute and recurved at apex, abaxially sparsely or densely pubescent, sepals sometimes reaching beyond apex of inflation

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla curved, 16–25 mm long; tube 11–20 mm long, in basal 1/3 with a pear-shaped, ± depressed inflation ± 4 × 5 mm, narrowed and slightly curved above inflation into cylindrical part ± 1.5 mm diameter, dilated in throat to 2.5–4 mm diameter; exterior translucent white at base of inflation to pale green or pale purple to dark brownish in throat, glabrous; interior in throat with dark green or blackish veining on a whitish background, thinly pilose in throat; lobes linear from a deltoid base, plicate, straight, 4–7 × ± 2 mm, keeled down the upper part within, connate at the tips to form a cage which narrows towards apex, apical half and margins of basal half blackish-green, whitish with a dark green central line on the lower part of the face, adaxially with hairs

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona stipitate, cupular, whitish-translucent, ± 2.5 × 2.5 mm; outer lobes erect or slightly incurved, ± triangular-rectangular, 1–1.8 × ± 0.5 mm, apically obtuse or bifid (3-toothed), teeth purplish; inner lobes connivent-erect, linear-spatulate, ± 1.5 × 0.2 mm, dorsiventrally compressed, apically recurved or erect, minutely to distinctly papillose and purplish.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Androecium Stamens Anthers

Anthers subquadrate, overtopping the ± rounded stylar head; gynostegium,

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pollinia

Pollinia and guide rails ± hidden by corona lobes in lateral view, guide rails ± 0.1 mm long, nectaries dark or blackish-purple. Pollinia bright yellowish, 0.25–0.28 × 0.12–0.16 mm; corpusculum dark brown, linear, 0.12–0.16 × 0.04 mm.

Morphology Reproductive morphology Fruits

Follicles paired, acutely divergent, 75(–120) mm long × 2–3 mm diameter at centre

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed 5–6 × 2–2.5 mm, dark brown or blackish with a paler margin; coma 10–15 mm long

Ecology

Thickets and forest patches, Brachystegia woodland and riverine forests; 400–2200 m

Note

C. papillata is related to the group including among others C. claviloba, C. paricyma, and probably also C. meyeri-johannis. Most specimens hitherto incorrectly identified as C. meyerijohannis var. verdickii should correctly be referred to C. papillata mainly on the basis of the tuberous roots and the dense sessile inflorescences.

Distribution

Flora districts: T4 T6 T7 T8 Range: Congo-Kinshasa, Zambia, Malawi

Goyder, D. J., Gilbert, M. G. & Venter, H. J. T. (2020). Apocynaceae (part 2). In: M. A. García (ed.), Flora Zambesiaca, Vol. 7(3). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Type

Malawi, Zomba Mts., 5500 ft., Whyte s.n. (K000305636 holotype).

Morphology Roots

Roots not fusiform

Vegetative Multiplication Tubers

Tuber subglobose, to 4 cm diam. Stem twining, herbaceous, up to 3 m tall, uniformly pubescent

Morphology Leaves

Leaves herbaceous; petiole 30–50 mm long, pubescent; leaf blade narrowly to broadly ovate, rarely obscurely 3-lobed to hastate, 30–80(120) × 12–65(75) mm, base deeply cordate with rounded sinus, margin usually entire, rarely shallowly toothed, apex acuminate, abaxial surface pale, densely pubescent to subtomentose, adaxial surface darker green, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Inflorescences

Inflorescences usually many, sometimes paired at a node, extra-axillary, sessile or subsessile, peduncle to 3 mm long, cyme umbel-like, up to 20-flowered, several flowers open at once

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Pedicel

Pedicel 8–10(12) mm long, pubescent

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Calyx

Sepals linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, 3–8 × to 1.5 mm wide, acute, abaxially sparsely to densely pubescent, adaxially glabrous

Morphology General Buds

Bud with sinuses raised and reflexed

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corolla

Corolla 19–24 mm long, straight or slightly curved; tube 12–18 mm long, basal chamber ovoid, 4–7 × 4–5 mm, abruptly narrowed at apex, limb cylindrical, c.1 mm wide, widening to 4–6 mm at mouth, exterior with basal inflation white, and limb white or pale to lime green, rarely flushed red, glabrous or rarely minutely puberulent (Zimbabwe); interior purple at top of basal inflation and base of limb, otherwise pale, glabrous (papillate at base), sinuses rounded, spreading and gaping, strongly narrowly auriculate; lobes linear to oblong-linear from triangular base, 4–8 mm long, plicate, apices loosely connate to form ovoid-conical cage distinctly narrower to slightly broader than mouth, abaxially glabrous, margins and sometimes inner keel white villose, adaxially white with minutely papillose blackish green or purple tip

Morphology Reproductive morphology Flowers Corona

Corona stipitate, c.2.5 × 2.5 mm diam., mostly white; outer lobes each forming a pocket, lobes oblong ovate, not connate laterally, erect, shortly bifid, glabrous

Morphology Reproductive morphology Seeds

Seed dark brown or blackish with pale margin, 5–6 × 2–2.5 mm; coma 10–15 mm long. Follicles narrowly divergent, linear-fusiform, 7.5–12 × 0.2–0.3 cm wide, glabrous

Distribution

Zambia, Zimbabwe, Malawi. Also in D.R. Congo and Tanzania.

Ecology

Forest and woodland margins, often twining up tall grasses, sometimes on rock outcrops or termite mounds; 950–1850 m.

Conservation

LC, moderately frequently collected from quite a wide area.